Augmented line-scan focal modulation microscopy for multi-dimensional imaging of zebrafish heart in vivo

Multi-dimensional fluorescence imaging of live animal models demands strong optical sectioning, high spatial resolution, fast image acquisition, and minimal photobleaching. While conventional laser scanning microscopes are capable of deep penetration and sub-cellular resolution, they are generally too slow and causing excessive photobleaching for volumetric or time-lapse imaging. We demonstrate the performance of an augmented line-scan focal modulation microscope (aLSFMM), a high-speed imaging platform that affords above video-rate imaging speed by the use of line scanning. Exceptional background rejection is accomplished by combining a confocal slit with focal modulation. The image quality is further improved by merging the information from simultaneously acquired focal modulation and confocal images. Such a hybrid imaging scheme makes it possible to use very low power excitation light in high-speed imaging, and therefore leads to reduced photobleaching that is desirable for three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) in vivo image acquisition.